Cancun

Things to do in Cancun for adults during your vacation (Ideas for couples & groups of friends)

Cancun is an ideal destination for couples or groups of friends to visit.
By Nicole Muto

Cancun boasts gorgeous beaches, crystalline waters, and tons of activities to keep the whole group entertained for days.

Whether you're headed to Cancun to kick back and relax or go full-throttle on a jet ski, you'll find that there's plenty of fun to be had. If you're looking for the best activities and landmarks to add to your itinerary, check out our list of Cancun must-sees, including...

  • Chichén Itzá and Valladolid
  • Dolphin Encounter and Maroma Beach Club access
  • Columbus Sunset Dinner Cruise
  • Snorkel an Underwater Museum
  • Parasail Cancun
  • Tulum Express Tour
  • Shipwreck Snorkeling Experience
  • Paradise SubSee Excursion
  • and more...

Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá is one of the most famous Mayan temples in Mexico. It's definitely worth a visit to see the famed structure with your own eyes. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the area to take in the historical ruins. As you explore, you'll learn more about the Mayans' advancements in math, science, and architecture.

The temple is one of the most uniquely built historic structures in the area. After you explore Chichén Itzá, it's time for a typical Mexican buffet lunch at Hacienda Selva Maya followed by a cooling dip in the natural cenote Saamal. You'll have plenty of time for a refreshing swim.

On your way back to Cancun, you'll also stop at the colonial town of Valladolid where your guide will provide some top tips and leave you to explore its impressive architecture and quaint pastel-colored buildings.

Getting in: Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Day Trip tickets are included on the All-Inclusive pass as a premium option.

Chichén Itzá

Dolphin encounters

Interacting with dolphins will be a dream come true! Learn all about the playful creatures in your briefing, hop in the pool, and suit up in your life vest ready for your unforgettable experience with these intelligent and gentle mammals.

The dolphins will make you part of their performance. You'll get handshakes, kisses, foot pushes, and maybe even get towed across the pool by their dorsal fin! On top of that, you'll have full access to Maroma Beach Club.

Getting in: Dolphin Encounter and Maroma Beach Club Access is included on the Cancun Explorer Pass.

Swimming with dolphins

Columbus Sunset Dinner Cruise

This one is perfect for couples in Cancun looking for a romantic night out. Cruise around the lagoon as the sun sets and enjoy a relaxing evening together. The cruise is complete with a 3-course steak and vegetable meal with delectable desserts. Soak in the sights and dance to the music provided by a live saxophone band. 

Getting in: Columbus Romantic Dinner Cruise tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Columbus sunset dinner cruise

Snorkel around an underwater museum

This isn't your typical trip to a museum. Journey out to Paraiso Nizuc for a once-in-a-lifetime experience under the surface. The Underwater Museum is a collection of 16 unique statues that reside below sea level off the coast of Cancun. Hop aboard a motorboat and head to the reef! Aside from this underwater sculpture garden, you'll also see lots of local fish and marine life. You'll have a great time exploring this one-of-a-kind museum. 

Getting in: Underwater Museum Snorkel at Paraiso Nizuc tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Underwater museum

Parasailing fun

There's truly no better view of Cancun than the one you'll get from a personal parasailing trip. If you've been parasailing before, you'll know how thrilling the ride can be. If you haven't, you need to add this to your bucket list. It's the only way to experience what it's like to fly! Once you're strapped into the safety gear, you'll take flight from the back of the boat. 

Glide through the air over the crystal blue water and see the view of Cancun's gorgeous beaches unfurl from the highest point. If you're brave, you can even choose to have the captain dip you in the water at the end of your ride. 

Getting in: Parasailing Adventure in Cancun tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Parasailing in Cancun

Isla Mujeres adventure

Isla Mujeres is a small island located 20 minutes off the coast of Cancun where you'll find some of the best white sand beaches. While the island is only 10 miles long, there's plenty to see and do here. The island exudes a vibe of relaxation and enjoyment. Spend the day at the Beach Club where you'll have access to the pool and all of the club's amenities. Once you've lounged to your heart's content by the pool or at the beach, grab a bike and explore the island fully. 

Bike up one of the many cliffs for picturesque views of the island on the coast of Cancun. If you pedal into the heart of downtown Isla Mujeres, make sure to stop at a few of the local-owned shops and pick up souvenirs. 

Getting in: Isla Mujeres Discovery Sail tickets are included on Go Cancun pass. 

Isla Mujeres

Tulum Express tour

Cancun is full of beautiful beaches and tons of activities, but that's not all there is to it. There are many ancient Mayan temples and ruins in the surrounding areas that serve as a large part of Mexico's history. Journey to nearby Tulum to see some of the ruins for yourself. 

Your tour guides will take you to some of the most notable sights and provide a background of their importance. You'll learn more about the Mayan civilization and how it shaped so much of what we know today. Once you've had your fill of the temples, take some time to explore the beaches. Relax on the coastline or take a leisurely walk up to the cliffs for unbeatable views. 

Getting in: Tulum Express Tour tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Mayan temples

Underwater shipwreck snorkeling

Don't miss the opportunity to snorkel over the only shipwreck site in Cancun. Whether you're an expert swimmer or a newbie, this is perfect for adventurers of every skill level. Once aboard the boat, you'll head out to reefs just 5 minutes off the coast for two hours of uninterrupted snorkeling exploration.

Start off at El Meco, the best-preserved reef on the Great Mayan Reef. As you swim around, you'll see colorful fish, local marine animals, and maybe even sea turtles. 

Your next stop will be the Underwater Museum, where you can admire the 16 different statues that reside under the water. And of course, save the best for last! The final stop of your snorkeling adventure will be at the shipwreck site. You'll be able to swim over the ship and explore the ruins of the wreck below. 

Getting in: Reef, Turtle, and Shipwreck Snorkeling Tour tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Shipwreck snorkeling

Paradise SubSee excursion

Hop aboard this half-boat, half-submarine hybrid for a unique ride in the water. The submarine-like vessel will allow you to see all the wonders of the water without having to get wet. The SubSee will take you past gorgeous reefs and the Underwater Museum. The guide on board will point out notable structures and local fish as you cruise by. 

Getting in: Paradise SubSee Excursion tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Subsee

Shopping in Playa del Carmen

One of the most famous spots in Playa Del Carmen is lively Fifth Avenue. The 22-block shopping oasis is full of popular restaurants, souvenir shops, and activities. Head down to Playa del Carmen from Cancun for a day full of exploration. Your tour guide will bring you to all the best shops, from locally-owned craft shops to name-brand stores like H&M. There's an endless amount of stores to visit - shoppers will love this trip. 

Even if shopping isn't your ideal vacation activity, this is still a great tour to take - Fifth Avenue is more than just stores and restaurants! There are a few different public parks and beaches that line the street that are all easy to get to. 

Getting in: Shopping in Playa Del Carmen Tour tickets are included on all Cancun passes.

Playa del Carmen

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Nicole Muto
Go City Travel Expert

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Playa de Carmen in Cancun
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Things to do in Cancun in the Morning

Beat the tropical heat (and sightseeing crowds) with our guide to all the best things to do in Cancun in the morning. Our top picks include an early-bird excursion to the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá, a shipwreck snorkeling adventure, and souvenir-shopping at Mercado 28.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Colors of Mexico food tour Cancun
Blog

Christmas in Cancun

Swap your snow boots for your flip-flops and your scarfs for your bikini bottoms by spending Christmas in Cancun. With sands so white you could easily mistake them for snow, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. However, this gives the resorts of the hotel zone a phenomenal atmosphere, whilst the glorious high season weather means nothing is off the menu when it comes to attractions. Add to this a platter of feast days and special events and you’ve got a festive season like no other! Here’s our guide to everything going on at Christmas in Cancun and the surrounding area. Early December In this devoutly Catholic country, the Christmas period doesn’t begin with December 1, but the first day of advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. Traditionally seen as a time of preparation, churches such as Iglesia de San Servacio in the old quarter of Valladolid sparkle with nativity scenes and candles, echoing the lights which add another layer to the buzz of Cancun’s hotel zone. Just 45 minutes away from Valladolid stands Chichen Itza, one of the most important Mayan sites in the entire Yucatan. Immortalized on a hundred T-shirts and as thousands of souvenir models of all sizes, it contains the impressive El Castillo pyramid, a structure perhaps even more impressive today than when it was built 1600 years ago. Las posadas The next big marker is Las posadas, beginning on December 16. It is a nine day event typified by candlelit evening processions through the streets of Cancun. Residents dress up as the Holy Family, and seek a place to stay for the birth of Jesus. After being rejected from entering two homes, as in the Bible accounts of the birth, they are welcomed into the third, where a party with food, drink and pinatas are often evident. Homes are decorated with red-leaved poinsettias – native to Mexico – and other evergreen plants. In addition, children cut the sides of paper bags into a variety of shapes that are then illuminated by candles – a little like a festive version of a jack o’lantern. They’re called farolitos and are placed on windowsills and doorsteps. Christmas shopping In between the nightly processions there’s plenty of opportunity to explore the independent and big name stores that make up Cancun’s retail spaces. For souvenirs and other handmade items we’d suggest downtown’s Mercado 28, followed by a trip to the boutiques of US-style mall Plaza Las Americas. Decked out in all its Christmas finery, it has a friendly rivalry with Kukulkan Plaza a short distance further south, whose elegant flat-domed ceilings provides the perfect spot for the free nightly performances from December 20 – 31. Head to Punta Cancun (the Party Zone) for the best of the city’s nightlife. Around 25 major clubs do their best to attract you, offering open bars, giant dancefloors and DJ sets that extend towards daybreak. Nochebuena Rather than December 25, it’s Christmas Eve – or Noche Buena – the last day of Los Posedos which is the big day for family gatherings in Mexico. Children lead processions into their local churches, at which point the baby Jesus is placed in the manger of the nativity scenes. Most people attend midnight mass with church bells ringing out and fireworks exploding to mark the Holy birth. The feasting continues long into the early hours of Christmas morning, so don’t be surprised if some places are slower to open up than usual. It’s also Christmas Eve when children receive some of their gifts, especially those from Papa Noel (Santa Claus). When it comes to closures, you’ll see nothing like the complete shut down that takes place on Christmas Day in the US or Europe. Generally speaking, resorts and attractions remain fully open, although it’s well worth checking out individual places if you plan a Christmas Day visit. Christmas Day For a sense of the dishes enjoyed at this time of year in Cancun don’t miss your chance to explore the city’s puestos (market stalls) in search of the best seasonal street food. Christmas dinners usually begin with an oxtail soup containing beans and chilies. Bacalao (dried cod) and revoltijo de romerito (stewed greens with potato and dried shrimp) are also common. These are followed historically by a suckling pig, although the US influence has made turkey and glazed hams much more common. Adults then set about consuming large quantities of ponche con piquete, a hot alcoholic drink flavored with seasonal fruits and cinnamon that’s a little like mulled wine. Children get to play with luces de Belén, or Bethlehem lights, a type of sparkler. Holy Innocents Just a couple of days later, on December 28, comes one of Mexico’s more unusual celebrations. Although it commemorates the massacre of the Holy Innocents by King Herod after the birth of Christ, it has become the Mexican version of April Fool’s Day, with pranks played on those deemed ‘innocent’. Everyone seems to save their best tricks for the day, with newspapers and television programs also getting in on the action. Past stories have included reports that Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was leaving Britain’s Prince William for a Mexican soccer star. New Year’s Eve Christmas in Cancun continues into January with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. This is when many children receive the bulk of their gifts, just as Jesus was gifted the gold, frankincense and myrrh from the Three Wise Men. But for most, the season ends on New Year’s Eve. Celebrations take a number of forms, with dining out a particularly popular choice for the evening hours. As the clock turns towards midnight, many holidaymakers head to the bars and clubs, whilst still more await the fireworks which erupt over Cancun on the stroke of twelve. Save at Christmas in Cancun Packed full of special events and traditional insights, there’s even more reason to visit Cancun at Christmas than at other times of year. For the most part your favorite attractions will remain open, so don’t forget to do the sensible thing and travel with Go City. Do this and you’ll make huge savings on admission costs to top attractions – it’s really as simple as that!
Ian Packham
Friends check out the sights at Chichen Itza
Blog

Why visit Cancun in December?

If the cold dark days of December get you down, look no further than the Mexican beach resort of Cancun. Situated in the country’s subtropical south, on the eastern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula, its days hit a heady 28°C just as other destinations in the northern hemisphere are preparing for snow and ice. Even before the arrival of the festive season, Cancun in December has a lot to say for itself. Some of the coolest temperatures and humidity levels of the year make it a great time to explore the treasures of the Maya, whilst the limited rainfall helps ensure great water visibility. But these are just a couple of reasons to book your trip to Cancun in December right now. For the rest, just keep reading! Discover the world of the Maya Although not the first month in Cancun’s peak period, the start of December remains comparatively quiet, with lower visitor numbers than other months in the dry season. If you’re keen to explore the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza without the crowds, now’s the time to do it. Humidity levels are on the lower side too, making it a little easier to discover the wealth of ruins and admire the sheer might of El Castillo pyramid. It’s a structure you’ve probably already seen even if you don’t realize it because it’s such a landmark for the Riviera Maya region. However, to see – and climb – the tallest step pyramid ever constructed by the Maya, you’ll need to head to the abandoned city of Coba. Almost lost to the jungle, its pyramid rises an impressive 42 meters high. Its steps sit at such an angle that many who accept the challenge of climbing to the top do so with the help of a rope before descending again on their backsides. Experience the best of the Caribbean Sea If climbing Coba’s pyramid gets you hot under the collar, the site has another attraction right up your street – a cenote or sinkhole. Just one of tens of thousands that dot the landscape of the Yucatan, and entirely natural in origin, these cave-like chambers are filled with cooling water from underground streams. That at Coba is known as Tankach Ha, or ‘deep water’, and has a depth at some points of 35 meters, although its two wooden platforms welcome swimmers and feet-dippers of all abilities. Snorkel in open water and you’ll lose the freshness Tankach Ha and other cenotes are famous for, but you’ll gain a brightly-colored underwater world teeming with darting tropical fish, anchored by hard and soft corals and visited by sharks, rays and turtles. The location of the largest reef system this side of the international date line, there are plenty of spots to choose between, including Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres. One of the most unusual places to explore with snorkel, scuba gear or glass-bottomed boat is the ‘gallery’ of Cancun’s Underwater Museum at Paraiso Nizuc at the southern end of the hotel zone. Part art installation and part coral conservation effort, the museum’s gallery contains 33 concrete sculptures by Mexican and international artists placed between two and four meters down as a new place for the region’s species to inhabit. Take in the festive vibes On the streets of Cancun the coming of the festive season doesn’t go unnoticed. In this majority catholic nation, it remains a significant religious celebration, with churches richly decorated from the start of December. Festivities heighten further with the multi-day Las Posadas celebration on December 16, commemorating the journey the Holy Family had to make from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Candlelit processions take to the streets, symbolizing the search for somewhere to stay, whilst nativity scenes and decorations pop up throughout the city. Even before this, there’s the national holiday of the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12, with events including marching band parades. Christmas Day itself is quickly followed by the Day of the Holy Innocents (Dia de los Santos Inocentes) on December 28. A Mexican version of April Fool’s Day, expect plenty of practical jokes! Celebrations come thick and fast, with New Year’s Eve just three days later. As you might expect, fireworks erupt over the hotel zone on the stroke of midnight, whilst elsewhere many of the bars and clubs that have made the main strip famous across the world host special countdowns. Go wild Cancun in December has still more attractions awaiting your attention should you be able to drag yourself away from the gorgeous beaches for a couple of hours. If the sights and sounds of the region’s jungle have intrigued you, there are plenty of ways to explore its canopy cover. One of the most fun has to be at Extreme Adventure Park, where you can take an ATV down jungle tracks before sweeping through the trees attached to a zipline. There’s a similar zip-lining experience to be had at Selvatica Park, which has no fewer than ten zip-line courses, including their zip-line roller coaster and one that hangs so low over the water you’re sure to get wet. For more water-based rides, there’s Wet n’ Wild, one of three worlds at Ventura Park amusement park. Among other rides, you can plunge into the water with a dead drop, enjoy a splash down on an inner tube or float along the lazy river. Alternatively, you could try your hands (or should that be feet?) at another sort of adventure, the Cancun marathon. The 42 kilometer mental and physical challenge starts out at the south of the hotel zone and winds its way to downtown Cancun before doubling back towards Punta Nizuc. Relish Cancun in December With average daily temperatures of 28°C, Cancun in December sees some of its chilliest temperatures of the year – a lovely problem to have! Humidity levels are also low by the standards of the year, making the month a good choice even without taking seasonal celebrations into account. Be sure to make the absolute most of your time by exploring with Go City. We work hard to give you incredible discounts on attraction admission for many of Cancun’s top things to do and see. Plus, with Go City there’s no need to plan your days way ahead of time – so if the weather’s just too good for that museum visit, you won’t find yourself trapped indoors!
Ian Packham

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